Railroad-switch



G. R. SMITH.

Railway Switch.

Patented July 20, 1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. SMITH, OF ITHAOA, NEW YORK.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N g. 20,959, dated July 20,1858; Reissued December 17, 1867, No. 2,814.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnonen RANDALL SMITH, of Ithaca, county of Tompkins,and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Railroad-Switch;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsand letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the switch complete as attached tothe truck. Letters a, a, represent the upright shaft, the lower end ofwhich rests upon and turns in a metallic bed plate. Letter 6 is thepinion which is securely keyed to the lower extremity of the shaft a.Letter 0 is a rack of any required length in which the cogs of thepinion Z), play. Letter (Z, is a cappiece extending over both rack andpinion to hold them down to their places. In the cap piece d, is afriction roller resting against the back of the rack 0. Letters 6, 0,represent the rod extending from, and forming part of the rack 0, withclamps clasping the rails near their movable extremity. Letters f f 7are the frame or standard (which should be made of iron) and supportsthe shaft a, and the circle g, g, on which circle the spring lever 71,slides. The spring lever 72, is to turn the shaft (1, and is securelyattached to said shaft immediately above its bearings in the frame f, f,f. Letters 2', 2', 2', represent slots in the upper surface of thecircle 9, g, into which the spring lever l1, drops when the rails are inopposition. The lever is held sufliciently firm in these slots by itsown spring. The size of the slots should accurately correspond to thesize of the lever. Letters A1, L, is, is, represent signals so attachedto the upper extremity of the shaft a, a, as to exhibit to theapproaching train the condition of the switch. Letter Z, represents asignal light or lantern and is so constructed, as will be shownhereafter, as to show a white light when the switch and main truck arein opposition and to invariably show red light when the switch is turnedto either side. Letters .9, 8, show the movable portion of the rails,and t, t, t, t, t, t, the stationary track.

Fig. 2 letter h is a view of the spring lever.

Fig. 8, letters 6, c, and e, e, is a separate view of the pinion andrack and its extending rod.

Fig. 4 letter (Z, is a sectional view of the cap piece.

The lamp or signal light above referred to is to be made four sided; twosides, opposite each other, to be of clear glass, and the other twosides of stained or red glass. The lantern is set upon the top of theshaft a and turns with it. The upper end of the shaft is to be made ofthe proper shape to fit accurately an oblong opening in the bottom ofthe lamp. By this simple device it is impossible for any one to placethe lamp either designedly or carelessly so that it shall deceive theapproaching train.

The following are some of the advantages claimed for this over otherswitches. It can be changed more rapidly than any other; it is sure tobe fastened when the switch is changed. The strain being so nearly atthe end or rest of the shaft does not rack the switch so much as whenlever power is used. The rack and pinion may be securely boxed fromstorm or dirt. Lastly economy, being less expensive and more durablethan ordinary switches.

I claim 1. The described rack and pinion at the base of a perpendicularrotating or partially rotating shaft, when combined with a spring lever,and a circle or segment of a circle; said lever being fixed at rightangles to said shaft, and playing on said circle or segment, and intoslots in the same; and said segment or circle being horizontal.

2. Further I claim the above named combination when further combinedwith a signal lantern; which lantern revolves wholly or in part, whenadjusted to the top of said shaft; said lantern having different coloredglasses, and revolving on an axis drawn perpendicularly through thecenter of said lantern.

GEORGE E. SMITH. Witnesses J. O. M. INeERsoLL, A. H. FOWLER.

[FIRST PRINTED 1911.]

